Derek King is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on January 11, 1967, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. King began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 1983. He played for the Greyhounds for three seasons, scoring 139 goals and 157 assists in 176 games.
In 1986, King was drafted by the New York Islanders in the first round, 13th overall. He made his NHL debut in the 1986-87 season and played for the Islanders for eight seasons. During his time with the Islanders, King was a consistent scorer, with his best season coming in 1991-92 when he scored 38 goals and 41 assists in 80 games. He was also known for his physical play and was not afraid to drop the gloves when necessary.
In 1994, King was traded to the Hartford Whalers, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Toronto Maple Leafs for two seasons before being traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1998. King played for the Blues for one season before being traded back to the Maple Leafs in 1999. He played his final NHL season with the Dallas Stars in 2000.
Throughout his NHL career, King played in 830 games, scoring 261 goals and 351 assists for a total of 612 points. He also played in 93 playoff games, scoring 23 goals and 28 assists. King was a versatile player who could play both center and wing positions. He was also a reliable penalty killer and was often used in defensive situations.
After retiring from the NHL, King became a coach. He began his coaching career in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack in 2001. He then coached the Sarnia Sting from 2002 to 2006 before becoming an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2006. King was promoted to head coach of the Marlies in 2008 and coached the team until 2011.
In 2011, King became an assistant coach with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs. He then became an assistant coach with the NHL's Florida Panthers in 2013. King was with the Panthers for three seasons before becoming an assistant coach with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners in 2016. He is currently an assistant coach with the AHL's San Diego Gulls.
In conclusion, Derek King had a successful NHL career, playing for several teams over a span of more than a decade. He was a consistent scorer and a physical player who was not afraid to drop the gloves. After retiring from playing, King became a coach and has had a successful coaching career in the OHL, AHL, and NHL.
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